Brock
frowned at the two teenagers. He couldn't believe Ash was so naïve.
Certainly Paul have been fooling him again, telling him he's sorry
and stuff, and Ash foolishly believed him. His delusive words have
put a veil above Ash's eyes so he couldn't see the deception
hidden beneath them. Brock was about to rip off this veil and show
his friend the truth.

Ash
watched him approach him, mouth slightly open. He had never seen
Brock so angry before, boiling inside him, ready to burst. He felt
Paul's arms fall from around his waist.

"Why
did you get back? Brock said scornfully, looking at Paul like he was
a disgusting insect which must be crushed. "You think it's funny
to play around with his feelings, don't you."

Paul
looked several seconds at him, wordless. Then, a smirk blossomed into
the corner of his lips. That moron was completely clueless.

"I…"
he tried to explain himself, but Brock cut him off immediately. He
misunderstood his smirk as a positive answer to his question.

"Do
you even know how much he suffered?" he asked, his voice getting
even louder, leaning more into Paul. Paul didn't back off, looking
straight at the older man's face.

"I
know, but…" Brock cut him off again. He was determined to keep
him from saying anything that would poison Ash's mind more. He lied
enough to him.

"But
what? You were too much of a prideful bastard to soothe him. You were
afraid that your pride would be smeared if me and Dawn would find out
what's going on." Ash watched them in awe. What to believe? Brock
was his old friend, he knew him since he was little. He knew he was
wise and he was always right, but now he had a doubt. He was looking
straight forward. He refused to recognize there actually was another
part of Paul. He wasn't giving a second chance. And Paul. Inside
him, he knew he meant it when he said he cares. He looked him in the
eyes, and they were sincere. The feeling of their last kiss and the
way he embraced him meant more than they meant before.

Right
now, he didn't need Brock, or other friends, to take a right
decision. "Brock, stop. Let him explain." Brock turned his head
towards him.

"No,
Ash. He had lied enough to you." Ash could tell Paul was getting
more and more nervous. His left fist was tightened and his onyx eyes
were looking fiercely at the breeder.

"But…"
Ash began.

"Shut
up, Ash!" Brock roared and Ash's eyes widened. What happened to
his friend? He had never been rude to him or told him to shut up. His
head dropped, looking blankly at the floor. He didn't like how
things turned out. Everything went out of control and it was his
entire fault. He should have never told Paul what he was feeling for
him. He shouldn't have agreed to keep their relationship secret,
without telling his friends. He knew from the beginning it wasn't
going to turn out good. And look what it came to.

Paul's
anger reached the maximum level. He may have expected Brock to not
trust him, but he couldn't let him say anything bad to Ash. In a
brief second, he pushed the breeder hard.

"Don't
say this to him!" he shouted. Brock stumbled backwards, taken by
surprise. He regained his equilibrium and sneered at the Veilstone
trainer.

"Huh?
What about when you were calling him pathetic and things?" Paul
stomped his foot into the wooden floor. He had lost his patience. He
wanted to make that short-minded see the truth, listen to him, let
him explain what was going on.

"For
goodness sake, I'm sorry!" He exploded. "I'm sorry for
everything I said to him, I'm sorry for making him feel bad, I'm
sorry for everything I have done! Are you happy now?" he shouted
angrily, gesticulating hotly. Brock stared at him.

"What
did you say?" he asked, like he hasn't
heard the screams which almost shook the windows of the Pokémon
Center.

"I
said I'm sorry." Paul repeated, quieter now. Brock looked at him
intensely, like he was trying to see inside his soul to see if he had
said the truth, or it was just another lie.

"Brock."
Ash said softly. "I trust him. I know he cares about me." Brock's
head lowered. He felt a wave of guilt overwhelm him. Was it possible?
Could Paul say the truth? Everything seemed so twisted, so wrong
inside his head. But maybe he was the one misjudging.

"Then,
I guess I have to apologize too." He said. Paul bit his tongue to
prevent himself to say anything bitter to the breeder, but Ash just
smiled.

"Don't
worry." He said. "I know you are just trying to protect me."
Brock nodded.

"Well,
I have just exaggerated a bit." He stretched his hand towards Paul.
Paul grimaced, but shook hands with Brock.

"Friends?"
the former gym leader asked.

"Friends."
Ash smiled. It was finally over. His arms wrapped around Paul's
neck, his lips finding their way to his ones. They touched softly and
both of the boys closed their eyes, enjoying every second of that
wonderful moment. They were interrupted by a disgusted sound coming
from the doorframe. They glared at Brock.

"Just
one thing." He said. "Don't do this in front of me, okay?"
Everyone burst out laughing, even Paul. He was, for the first time in
his life, happy. He had finally found his place.